Car News, Specs and Reviews

Holden FX

At the end of World War II, Australia had a problem—an acute shortage of cars and a newly civilianized army with money to burn. Loaded with government handouts, General Motors-Holden came up with a four-door, six-cylinder, six-seater that would become an Australian legend on wheels.

Launched in 1948, the 48-215, more generally known as the FX, was Australia’s Morris Minor. Tubby, conventional, and as big as a Buick, it had a sweet, torquey engine, steel monocoque body, hydraulic brakes, and a three-speed column shift. Light and functional, the FX so impressed Lord Nuffield (of Morris fame) with its uncomplicated efficiency that he had one shipped to England for his engineers to pull apart. The Australians did not care about the FX’s humble underpinnings and bought 120,000 with grateful enthusiasm.

US INFLUENCE

The “Humpy Holden” was a warmed-over prewar design for a small Chevrolet sedan that General Motors US had created in 1938. A Detroit-Adelaide collaboration, the FX eventually emerged as a plain shape that would not date. Australians still speak of the FX in hallowed tones, remembering it as one of the decade’s most reliable cars.

CLEARANCE

High ground clearance was especially designed for bad roads.

BODY FLEX

Taxi drivers complained of body flexing – doors could spring open on corners.

BODY SHELL

Body was dustproof, which helped in the hot Australian climate.

ECONOMY

Postwar fuel shortages meant that the Holden was parsimonious.

DASHBOARD

The dash echoes the Australian culture for utilitarianism, with center speedo, two occasional gauges, three-speed column change, and only five ancillary switches. The umbrella handbrake and chrome horn ring were hangovers from Detroit design influences.

SPEEDO

Speedo calibrated to 100 mph (161 km/h) was a tad optimistic.

REAR FENDER STYLING

The Holden’s rear fender line was cut into the rear doors but was much milder than Detroit’s styling men would have liked. Rear fender spats were attached to make the car look lower and sleeker. Endlessly practical, the FX had a cavernous luggage compartment.

LIGHTS

Simple and unadorned, the FX had no indicators or sidelights, just a six-volt electrical system with a single taillight.

ENGINE

Power came from a sturdy 2170cc cast-iron straight-six, with an integral block and crankcase, push-rod overhead valves, and a single-barrel downdraught Stromberg carburetor.

FRONT ASPECT

Recumbent lion hood mascot lent the FX an illusion of pedigree. In reality, Holden had no bloodline at all, but that didn’t matter since it went on to become the standard transportation of the Australian middle classes.

OUTPUT

The engine developed a modest 60 bhp.

SUSPENSION

The Holden was too powerful for its suspension and many ended up on their roofs.

BROCHURES

General Motors-Holden started life as a saddlery and leather goods manufacturer, later diversifying into car body builders.